Video madness

Heraf faces 12-game ban after “Watschn” comment

Andreas Heraf must be worried.

(Bild: Christof Birbaumer/Kronenzeitung)

As if the sporting situation of relegation-threatened Lustenau Austria wasn't difficult enough, the Vorarlbergers - or rather their coach Andy Heraf - are facing further trouble after the 1:1 at Rapid. In the worst case scenario, the 56-year-old could face a 12-match ban.

Andreas Heraf's altercation with a Rapid fan on Sunday is not without repercussions. The Lustenau coach wanted to wave to his family in the stands at the end of the game, but was told by a fan to "sneak away". Heraf's family felt harassed beforehand.

A verbal duel ensued, during which Heraf threatened the Rapid supporter with a "slap" and shouted, among other things: "You sponge!" The scene was filmed and posted on social media. As a result, the coach was reported to the ÖFB legal remedies regulations on suspicion of a violation of section 99, paragraph 1, as it is called in legalese. Specifically, this concerns "improper conduct towards players or other persons." The list of penalties provides for a ban of one to twelve competitive matches in the event of verbal abuse, insults, mockery or threats of abuse or similar disadvantages to an opponent or another person.

Austria Lustenau coach Andreas Heraf

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Has the offense been committed?
Saying "You sponge!" is the equivalent of verbal abuse and the "Watschn-Sager" is the threat of abuse. In an extreme case, Heraf could be banned for the remaining games and thus miss Austria in the relegation battle. Although this is a theoretical scenario, a punishment seems likely. 
A hearing will probably be held next Monday. Until then, the club is taking a wait-and-see approach and is taking a relaxed view of the matter for the time being. Board spokesman Bernd Bösch: "I think the whole thing has overstepped the mark, for me it doesn't justify a ban."

A commentary on this topic from "Krone Vorarlberg" sports director Peter Weihs

If Heraf is banned, it would be a scandal 
Things are going well at Rotenberggasse 1 in Vienna's 13th district. On Monday evening, Rapids' "choirboys" Steffen and Maximilian Hofmann, Stefan Kulovits, Gudio Burgstaller, Marco Grüll, Thorsten Schick and Niklas Hedl had to turn up at the Bundesliga headquarters there to receive their - deserved - punishments after their sometimes homophobic chants.

Soon Andy Heraf will probably also have the "pleasure" of appearing in the inconspicuous gray, three-story building. The reason: the 56-year-old has been reported by the league for "improper conduct towards players or other persons".

It is clear to him that Heraf was not smart to allow himself to be provoked by a Rapid fan. Yes, he should have simply moved on and ignored the provocation. But even Heraf is only human. Should he actually be punished, it would trigger an avalanche. Athletes, coaches and officials would be "fair game" and would have to put up with the worst insults. 
Because as soon as they have the guts to counter insults - sometimes even hate speech - someone, somewhere pulls out a cell phone, records a video, posts it on social media and then - like Heraf in the current case - you're the fool who has to justify yourself. In my opinion, this is victim-offender reversal at its finest, which must not become the norm.